CM Himanta Fires Back at Congress Over Nirmala Sitharaman Name Jibe
Synopsis
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma fired back at Congress on X after Rahul Gandhi reportedly dropped the last letter of Nirmala Sitharaman's name, warning the opposition to fight elections on the ground rather than seek attention on social media.
Key Takeaways
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted a sharp rebuttal on X on October 30, 2026 .
Rahul Gandhi reportedly dropped the last letter of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's name on X; Congress called it a new attention style.
Sarma asked pointedly whether BJP should similarly truncate 'Rahul' and 'Gandhi' for attention.
Sarma urged Congress to 'fight on the ground, through the ballot and the EVM' instead of social-media tactics.
The exchange reflects a broader pattern of BJP-Congress sparring on X ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.
A sharp volley of political wit landed on X on Friday, October 30, 2026, when Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma turned a Congress social-media move into a pointed counter-punch — asking whether BJP should start dropping letters from 'Rahul' and 'Gandhi' to match the opposition's style.
The provocation: Rahul Gandhi, senior Indian National Congress leader, reportedly dropped the last letter from the name of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on X — a move Congress then described as a 'new style of getting attention' on the platform. Sarma was having none of it.
Sarma's two-edged retort
In his post, Sarma asked with deliberate irony: 'Should we also start dropping the last alphabet from both 'Rahul' and 'Gandhi' just to get attention?' The implication was unmistakable — both truncations carry a sting the Congress may not welcome. He then pivoted from sarcasm to substance, offering what he called 'a little unsolicited advice to Congress': 'Fight us on the ground, through both the ballot and the EVM, not through attention-seeking tricks on social media.'EVMs, ballots, and a familiar BJP refrain
The mention of both 'ballot and the EVM' is deliberate framing. Congress has repeatedly flagged concerns about Electronic Voting Machines ahead of election cycles; Sarma's pairing of the two is a rhetorical nudge — essentially saying: if you distrust the machines, fight us through paper ballots too, but fight us on the ground either way. It is a line that frames the BJP as confident of any electoral test, while casting the opposition as retreating into online theatre. Such skirmishes between BJP and Congress figures on X have become a recurring feature of Indian political life, especially in the run-up to state assembly elections and the shadow of the 2029 Lok Sabha polls. They rarely move policy but they do move news cycles — and that, arguably, is the point for both sides. For Sarma, one of the BJP's most combative communicators and the convenor of the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), the post also serves a secondary purpose: keeping his national profile sharp well beyond Assam's borders. Whether Congress responds on X or on the ground, Sarma has already set the terms of this particular exchange.Point of View
High-visibility sparring on national issues keeps him relevant as a pan-India BJP voice, not merely a regional chief minister. The exchange also signals that both parties are already warming up their digital war rooms ahead of the next major electoral test.
NationPress
30 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Himanta Biswa Sarma post about Rahul Gandhi and Nirmala Sitharaman?
Sarma responded after Rahul Gandhi reportedly dropped the last letter of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's name on X, which Congress described as a new attention-getting style. Sarma mocked the move and challenged Congress to contest elections on the ground instead.
What did Himanta Sarma say about dropping letters from 'Rahul' and 'Gandhi'?
Sarma asked, rhetorically, whether BJP should also start dropping the last alphabet from both 'Rahul' and 'Gandhi' to get attention — a pointed jab implying both truncations would be unflattering to the Congress leader.
What did Sarma mean by 'fight us through the ballot and the EVM'?
Sarma challenged Congress to contest him and the BJP through electoral means — both paper ballots and Electronic Voting Machines — rather than resorting to social-media stunts, framing the BJP as confident of any electoral contest.
Who is Himanta Biswa Sarma?
Himanta Biswa Sarma is the Chief Minister of Assam and a senior BJP leader. He also serves as the convenor of the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), giving him a significant political footprint across northeastern India.
What is the broader significance of BJP-Congress X sparring?
Social-media exchanges between BJP and Congress leaders have become a consistent feature of Indian politics, used to shape news cycles and voter perception, particularly in the run-up to state assembly elections and general elections.
